


iO« 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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016 102 669 4 



F 1785 
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MEMORANDUM 



WRONGS AND ACTS OF VIOLENCE WHICH, SINCE 

1868, THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT IN THE 

ISLAND OF CUBA HAVE DONE TO 

THE PERSON, FAMILY AND 

PROPERTY OF 

INOCENCIO CASANOVA, 

A NATURALIZKD CITIZEN OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Nueva York : 

IMPRESO POR MACDONALD & PALMER, 733 BROADWAY. 

1871. 



\ 



^CJRESS 






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"2> 



MEMORANDUM 

Of the wrongs and acts of violence, which since 1868, the Spanish 
Government in the Island of Cuba, have done to the person, 
family and property of Mr. Inocencio Casanova, a naturalized 
citizen of the United States of America. 

1. Mr. I. Casanova became a regular citizen of the United 
States in 1859, when there was no rebellion in Cuba, a fact which 
by itself shows, that that event had no influence upon his change 
of nationality, but that it was an act of his own free will, prompted 
rather by his republican sentiments and by his opposition to mon- 
archical institutions. 

2. But while in Cuba, Mr. Inocencio Casanova always tried 
to do his duty as an orderly, law-abiding citizen, and to respect 
the powers of the land there, without, however, betraying his 
inborn republican principles ; on the contrary, he always stood by 
them on legal grounds; since he endeavored, whenever the occa- 
sion would occur, to hasten the abolition of slavery in the land, 
although he was the master of many slaves, whose joint value 
did not come short of half a million of dollars. This latter holy 
work he early began by declaring free all new-born slaves in his 
own plantations. About this time, besides, he devised a plan for 
the gradual emancipation of all the slaves in the whole Island. 
Such a plan he in time submitted to the Captain General, Serrano, 
whose liberal views on this point are well known, and he agreed 




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with Mr. Casanova ; but the slave-traders, who have the control 
of political and civil affairs in Cuba, soon got wind of the mat- 
ter, became alarmed and began to urge a fierce war on Mr. 
Casanova, his family and property. In this relentless persecu- 
tion, which has had no end or respite, at least since the revolution 
broke out in Cuba, the Spanish government at last took a principal 
part. One act of violence has followed another, in spite of inter- 
national treaties and without any regard for the rights of the 
citizens of a friendly nation, never wanting in forbearance for the 
many wrongs to its own citizens, and for the actual butcheries, 
which, almost in sight of. its shores _the Spaniards have been 
practising upon a people whose only crime is to wish to unite their 
destinies to, or assimilate them to the institutions of this great 
American Republic. 

8. Mr. Casanova, who owns in Cuba large estates, possesses 
also in this country no less valuable ones, long since-; established a 
system of life in accord with these premises, and he used to spend 
the summers in the United States and the winters in Cuba. JBy this 
means he was enabled to avoid the inconveniences of the climate 
in both countries, and lo attend personally to his estates here and 
there, being in both of them at the time most needed. With 
the winter in Cuba came the season for gathering the sugar crops 
and for making contracts for molasses in Cardenas, where he 
owns one of the most capacious and reputed warehouses in the 
whole town. But all his thriving business has' come to ruin and 
nothing with the hatred and persecution of the Spanish govern- 
ment. By being compelled to leave the Island of Cuba, Mr. 
Casanova had to relinquish the management of his estates and of 
his valuable interests into mercenary hands, who never would take 
as good a care of them as he did. In November of 1868, Mr. 
Casanova, along with his wife, left New York for Cuba as he was 
in the habit of doing before winter, and no later than the 1 Oth day 
of December of the same year, by order of the then Captain 
General, Lersundi, was issued the first warrant for the arrest and 
imprisonment of Mr. Casanova and his sons. The execution of 
this warrant was confided to the Lieutenant-Governor of the 
Colon district, Mr. Casanova's principal sugar plantation named 



Armonia, being situated there, and because they believed he was 
gone there with all his family. But it happened that there was at 
the time only his son Mr. Joseph and his lady, both of them Amer 
ican citizens. About forty Spanish volunteers as well as civil 
guardsmen, all armed to the teeth, went to the estate to execute 
the warrant, they got mad and committed every sort of outrage 
and insulted the lady, because they could neither find in the house 
Mr. Casanova or any of his children, and left saying that they 
would return and shoot down every one they met there. 

4. On hearing of this in Havana, Mr. Casanova, not knowing 
that his name was included in tlie warrant, through the American 
Consul remonstrated against the outrages done in his estate by the 
Spanish volunteers, and of the persecution of which his son Joseph 
was the object, and asked for a safe conduct, so that he might 
fetch him and present him, since Mr. Casanova was sure he had 
committed no offence against the Government. The safe conduct 
was granted, and of all these things must be a record in the 
American Consulate. On the 19th of December, Mr. Casanova 
started for his estate Armonia, in quest of his son, Mr. Joseph. 
He was not to be found at home, and Mrs. J. N. Casanova, would 
not reveal where her husband was concealed, because she was 
much frightened and did not think the safe conduct plain enough 
to protect the person of her husband against the ferocity of the 
Spanish volunteers, who were bent upon having his blood. This 
being the case, Mr. Casanova resolved to return to Havana and 
look for a better official document that might shield the life of his 
son, but on the same day of his arrival at the estate Armonia, the 
Captain of Partido, or Commissary of Police, followed by several 
civil guards, appeared there and told Mr. Casanova that he was 
his prisoner. Mr. Casanova, though greatly surprised, told the 
Commissary of Police that he was ready to obey, but that he 
wanted to know by whom and when the warrant was issued. And 
he was told that the warrant was issued by the Captain General 
himself on the 10th of December. But on the Commissary of 
Police being shown the safe conduct already mentioned, which the 
Captain General had given to Mr. Casanova, on the 1 9th of 
December, so that he might safely fetch his son and take him to 



Havana, it was plainly proven that if the Captain General ever 
wished or ordered the imprisonment of Mr. Casanova, Sr., he had 
since changed his mind and the warrant was null and void. 
However, the Commissary of Police did not let Mr. Casanova 
free, but on condition that he should go right away and see 
himself the Lieutenant-Governor at the town of Colon. Mr. 
Casanova did as he was told. That officer was easily convinced 
that there was no cause for. Mr. Casanova being deprived of his 
liberty, dismissed the case and allowed him to go free. 

5. Again, on the 28th or 29th of December, through the 
American Consul, Mr. Casanova appealed in writing to the Captain 
General, stating to him how the case of his son Mr. Joseph stood, 
and requested another safe conduct more plain and distinct 
which might give satisfaction, to Mrs. J. N. Casanova, and prove 
a sure guarantee to Mr. Casanova, Jr's., personal safety. The 
Captain General readily granted the new safe conduct in which 
Mr. Casanova was empowered to go after his son Ma 1 . Joseph and 
bring him safely to Havana without any interference or hindrance 
from the Governors, Commissaries of Police, civil or rural guards, 
or any other civil or military officers. It is well to state here, that 
the Captain General even now did not remember nor gave a hint 
that he had not forgotten the warrant issued by him on the 10th 
of December, with which he ordered the arrest of Mr. Casanova 
and all his sons. And it should be also stated that in the Ameri- 
can Consulate, at Havana, the records of all these papers and 
events must be fuund. 

6. With the new safe conduct Mr. Casanova started again for 
his sugar plantation Armonia, and that document heing satisfactory 
to Mrs. J. N. Casanova, she revealed the hiding place of her hus- 
band, who along with his father returned soon after to Havana by 
railroad. 

7. On the day after their arrival at Havana, in company with 
the American Consul, they both went to see the Captain General 
at his palace in the city. In the long talk they had, the Captain 
General frankly stated, before the American Consul, that all the 
troubles which Messrs/ Casanova had encountered for the few 
days past, had been occasioned by false informations received by 



the government. The Captain General said he was sorry for what 
had happened, and to amend matters he added that he would allow 
Mr. Casanova, Jr., to go free and to bear arms for his own defence 
and that of his plantation. This pleasant interview took place on 
a Saturday afternoon, and it was agreed that Messrs. Casanova 
should call again on Monday next in order to take the written 
permit here mentioned. After, which they took leave of the 
Captain General and left the palace. 

8. But on the same Saturday evening Mr. Casanova received 
the newspaper La Aurora, Matanzas, where under date of the 24th 
inst., was printed an edict or summons commanding Mr. Joseph 
Casanova to appear there and give himself up within nine days of 
the above date, to answer the charge of disloyalty of which he was 
accused before a military standing commission. 

9. There was enough in such a proceeding to make any calm 
man mad. Anyway, it will appear very strange and annoying 
that the Captain General, the Chief Magistrate of the Island, the 
highest civil and military ruler of the province, should have given 
two safe conducts to Mr. I. Casanova, one on the 18th, another on 
the 28th or 29th of December, and that on the 24th of the same 
month, some subordinates of his should dare to call to account that 
very young man for an imaginary offence. Mr. Casanova with his 
son at once took the railroad for Matanzas, sought and obtained an 
interview with the Governor there, in company with the American 
Consul, explained everything to that officer and had the summons 
recalled which commanded Mr. Casanova, Jr., to appear before 
the military commission sitting there. 

10. On the appointed day, Mr. Casanova and his son presented 
themselves to the Political Secretary in order to get the promised 
permit to carry arms in the rural estate. But on his arrival at the 
office he was told that the new Captain General was in port and 
would take cognizance of Mr. Casanova, Jr's., case, and undoubt- 
edly would issue the permit asked for and promised by the 
departing Captain General. So it was done three or four days 
after, and then Mr. Casanova, Jr., could return to the sugar 
plantation Armonia, of which he was the superintendent. Thus 
ended the first persecution that Mr. Casanova, his family and 



property suffered at the hands of the Spanish (Government in 
Cuba. 

11. On the 9th of January, 1869, General Dulce, then Captain 
General of Cuba, by proclamation conceded a free press to the 
Cubans. Taking advantage of it, Mr. Raphael, the youngest son 
of Mr. Casanova, commenced the publication of a small weekly 
sheet. This gave umbrage to General Dulce, who in those dreams 
of the boy, found cause or pretext for spiting the father ; so he 
ordered the periodical to be stopped and its editor imprisoned and 
tried for violation of the law of the press. . 

12. General Dulce, on the 13th of February, withdrew his 
amnesty proclamation and freedom for the press, and declared that 
all persons guilty of violating the press laws, as well as all political 
prisoners in future would be tried by court martial. As it has 
been stated, the imprisonment of young Casanova took place long 
before the issue of the above decree, and accordingly his case was 
in the hands of a civil magistrate or Alcalde Mayor, who on inves- 
tigating the matter failed to find the young man guilty and dis- 
missed the case. But after promising Mr. Casanova that he (the 
civil magistrate) would release the young man, refused to do it, 
giving as a reason for changing his mind, that the Captain General 
had called in the case. 

13. Mr. Casanova, not knowing the cause of such an arbitrary 
change, called upon the Political Secretary, and to his great sur- 
prise he learned that General D idee, by special decree, hadordei'ed 
the dismissed case of the younger Casanova to be submitted for 
trial to the court martial just created by the proclamation of the 
13th of February. [f there was a proof wanting that Mr. 
Casanova, his family and interests would find neither protection or 
guarantee under the Spanish Government in Cuba any longer, that 
determination of the Captain General might dispel all doubts he 
entertained on this point. It was plain enough that Gen. Dulce 
had ignored the dispositions of his own decree in order to prolong 
the imprisonment of young Casanova and then look for some 
offence of his and have him punished. 

14. The case of young Casanova was accordingly taken to the 
court martial and tried in the summary way that is customary in 



such tribunals in Cuba. But even the military judges or rather 
enemies of the Creoles, failed to find any. fault with young 
Casanova, declared him not guilty and ordered his release. In 
compliance with the order of the court martial, the Attorney 
General, along with Mr. Casanova, went to the city prison to have 
the young man released ; but they were told there that General 
Dulce had disposed otherwise and taken cognizance of the prisoner's 
case, as Captain General of the land and he could not consequently 
be set free. And so matters stood. 

15. At few days after this, young Casanova was taken very 
sick with small pox, in the public jail, whereupon his father, by 
writing, asked permission of the Captain General to have his son 
carried home and cared for, as there was no convenience in the 
prison to attend and nurse him properly. Of course, Mr. Casanova 
offered any bail the government might require, and return the 
young man to prison as soon as he was pronounced out of danger. 
But no answer would come from the Government for several days, 
the prisoner grew worse and worse, and Mr. Casanova in his dis- 
tress solicited the interference of several persons of high position and 
good understanding with General Dulce. It was of no avail. To 
the entreaties of all, that magnanimous ruler answered, "Well, let 
the young man die where he is. " And by order of General Dulce, 
against the wishes and solicitations of Mr. Casanova, sent the 
prisoner, as a common felon, to the hospital of the chain-gang, 
which is located in the upper part of the same jail. There, away 
from the cares of his mother and sisters, young Casanova went 
through his dreadful illness and eventually recovered, thanks to 
the money freely spent by Mr. Casanova in paying for medicines 
and nursing. Soon after, the prisoner was remanded to his 
solitary cell, where he was kept over three months, until, he being 
under age, was claimed as an American citizen, on account of his 
father's nationality, and restored to liberty. 

16. From the 22d to the 23d of January of 1869, unheard of 
scenes of tumult and riot took place at the Villanueva theatre and 
at the Louvre coffee house. * The Spanish volunteers there began 
to make use of the arms put into their hands by Captain General 
Lersundi, shooting down, like dogs, either Cubans or foreigners 



whom they happened to meet in the sti'eets, and who would not 
promptly answer the challenge of "Long live Spain ! " with which 
they accosted every passer by. So several persons Avere wantonly 
killed, amongst others, Mr. Conner, a qniet and harmless American 
citizen, well-known and esteemed in Havana. This alarmed Mr 
Casanova, who, finding there was no personal security even for 
foreigners in the capital of the Great Antille, drew up an energetic 
pi-otest on the 24th, and got it signed by all American citizens at 
the time in the city. A copy of the protest was transmitted to 
the Captain General, through the American Consul, and another 
one sent to the State Department at Washington. As it is to be 
supposed, no sooner was this protest presented and known where 
it came from and who its originator was, than the hatred with 
which Mr. Casanova was looked upon by the Spanish Government 
increased many fold, and it was resolved amongst the Spanish 
officers to get rid of the daring foreigner by all means. 

17. Early in February of 1869, a second warrant of arrest was 
issued against Mr. Casanova, but as soon as he heard of it, called 
in person upon the Captain General Don Domingo Dulce, and 
asked of him an interview, which was readily granted. Mr. 
Casanova commenced by saying that upon hearing of the warrant 
he came to deliver himself up, as it behooved 'a man of his position 
and responsibility ; that he thought the issue of such warrants 
by the Government entirely unnecessary, for the simple reason that 
he was a man of large means and well-known everywhere in the 
country and would never flee from justice as a common criminal , 
on the contrary they could have his person whenever wanted and 
easily find him at his house. That as such he was a great deal 
more interested in the peace and tranquility of the country where 
he had amassed by economy and toil a large fortune, than the 
Captain General himself, since the latter high functionary might 
resign or be relieved at any time of his command and leave the 
country as he came to rule it, without sustaining any loss to him- 
self of character or of means. This plain talk of Mr. Casanova 
rather pleased the Captain General than otherwise, who told 
him that no warrant had been issued to his (the C G's.) knowl- 
edge against Mr. Casanova by his authority ; that perhaps it 



9 

was issued by the City Governor, and that he (Dulce) would 
inquire. So he sent on the spot for the City Governor. In the 
meantime the latter functionary came, General Dulce spoke at 
length on the political situation of the country, and in the course 
of the conversation asked of Mr. Casanova which way his sons 
would go in the question at issue. As a man of honor and 
veracity, Mr. Casanova answered frankly to General Dulce, "that 
his sons, five in number, Creoles by birth, and educated on the 
modern idea of untrammeled self-governments, were heart and 
soul for the liberty of their own country, but that they would not 
be conspirators against the established government of the Island, 
unless all justice and freedom should be denied them." The 
appearance of the City Governor cut short this conversation and 
General Dulce put to him the question about the warrant of arrest 
above spoken of. The City Governor readily answered that in 
effect he had caused the issue of such a warrant of arrest against 
Mr. Casanova the previous day, but that he had already had it 
withdrawn. Upon hearing which Mr. Casanova could not restrain 
himself and spoke as follows to the Captain General. He said 
that now more than ever he felt the insecurity with which the 
people in Cuba lived, because it was a real fact that any man, his 
social position and his character notwithstanding, might be 
arrested every day and thrown in a common jail, without a warn- 
ing or previous charge, the order being carried out or recalled 
according as the man happens to be known or not by the authorities 
of the land. In short, said Mr. Casanova, I feel like a man ready 
to leave the country and allow my property and business go to 
naught and ruin. Both the Captain General and City Governor, 
tried their best in order to calm Mr. Casanova's fears, and anyhow 
they tranquilized him by promising not to disturb him, since they 
knew him better, but that they expected Mr. Casanova would report 
to them in case any subaltern might give him cause for complaint. 
18. They let Mr. Casanova, Si\, alone for a while, it is true, 
but a fresh persecution against Mr. Casanova, Jr., was soon after 
commenced. When Mr. Joseph least expected, several rural 
guards and Spanish volunteers, all of them armed with loaded 
guns, made suddenly their appearance about evening in the sugar 



10 

plantation Armonia. Their "first step was to surround the mill- 
house, then they went after the engineer, dragged him out of his 
bed and shot him dead on the spot. No inquiry was afterward 
instituted on this real murder, for such is the way they kill 
people in Cuba. The engineer thus assasinated, was a Cuban, and 
left behind him a wife and four children all dependent for food 
upon his daily work. 

19. Mr. Casanova, Jr., after whom the rural guards also came, 
while in bed heard the report of fire arms, guessed what was the 
matter, got out of the house as best he could, and made his escape 
to the town of Bemba, near by, on horseback. Thei'e he took the 
railroad for Havana, saw the American Consul at his office and in 
his company went on board the flagship of Admiral FIofF, happily 
at the time in port, seeking for a refuge. He did not feel himself 
safe on land. 

20. Mr. Joseph Casanova, here mentioned, is an American 
citizen, and once" performed the duties of Consul for the United 
States in Guayaquil, Ecuador. On his arrival at Washington he 
lodged a complaint and formal protest against the Spanish Govern- 
ment in Cuba, for the personal outrages and damages done to his 
property and business which he was obliged to leave behind in 
order to save life. But the Spaniards not content with the 
shooting of the engineer and of scaring away the superintendent 
of the sugar plantation, believing him yet there concealed some- 
where, late in the night there came a band of rural guards and 
Spanish volunteers, now for the fourth time. As a ruse de guerre 
they must have set fire to one of the buildings of the Ingenio, in 
which the stalk of the sugar cane once ground and dried is kept, 
and then rang the bell of the estate, because when most of the 
slaves and employees came out, the volunteers with their muskets 
prepared, instead of giving help to put out the fire, went from one 
to another of all new comers looking into their faces by the light 
oi' the house in flames in order to see whether the superintendent of 
the estate happened to be there or not. Thus the putting out of the 
fire was prevented, the building was burned down and proved a total 
loss. Jn this wise the second persecution which Mr. Joseph Casa- 
nova suffered at the hands of the Spanish Government, terminated. 



11 

T 21. This brings us to the last part of February of 18C9, Avhen 
the other sons of Mr. Casanova, Messrs. Manuel, Pedro andRicardo, 
seeing how their brother had shared under the brutal power of the 
Spanish volunteers, thought the time was come for their getting 
out of danger, no matter what this step might cost them. All of 
these gentlemen were at the time co-partners in a commission mer- 
chant house, which they had established in Cardenas and was 
doing a large and profitable business under the name of Casanova 
Brothers. The capital of the firm belonged to Mr. Casanova, 
father, wHo represented in the business his younger sons Ricardq 
and Rafael, whilst the older sons, Manuel, Joseph and Pedro, were 
the managers of the whole concern. Of course, determined to 
leave the country, Messrs. Manuel, Pedro and Ricardo, as they 
could not reasonably expect that their persons would be more re- 
spected than those of their father and two brothers had been, 
were compelled to suspend business, and thus to every purpose break 
their house and undergo a great loss. However, this terrible 
conclusion reached, they did not wish' to quit the Island. in a 
stealthily way, so they- asked for their passports, which the 
Spanish Government was not backward in granting to them, since 
the policy at the time was to open wide the door to all Creoles 
who wanted to go out of the Island of Cuba. Their pecuniary 
loss is incalculable, but they were not shot down, or garroted, or 
transported to Africa, as so many of their countrymen have been. 
22. Mr. Manuel, at the instance of his two other brothers, took 
his passport, and notwithstanding this, he has lately been tried and 
sentenced to death by a court martial, sitting at Havana. Mr M. 
Casanova left the Island of his own accord. He was guilty of no 
offence against the Spanish Government, nor had he been before 
arrested or tried for any crime. How is itj then, that they waited 
for him to go away from the country, in order to submit him to a 
military tribunal, and pass such a terrible judgment upon him % 
Why ? This proceeding is a high handed one, and arbitrary in 
every respect. It plainly appears, then, that as the Spanish 
Government could not have Mr. Manuel Casanova's blood, they 
now want "his money, since they have made a law clown in Cuba 
to the effect, that all goods, personal or real property, belonging to 



12 

a man upon whom sentence of death for disloyalty is passed, legally 
revert to the Government. 

23. Mr Casanova's father, as it has been stated, represented 
two-fifths of the . stock, in the firm of Casanova Brothers, 
Cardenas, and a half of it when Mr. Manuel Casanova, his eldest 
son, retired from the firm in April of 1869. But what is the use 
of keeping up the partnership when the managers are gone, the 
business paralized, and losses instead of profits are reaped? The 
losses and damages to the firm of Casanova Brothers may be cal- 
culated upon, considering the amount of the stock, which did not 
come short of two million of dollars, and the extent of the business 
generally done there. No man can justly deny the perfect right 
Mr. Casanova has in protesting once and again against the Spanish 
Government, and in making a large claim until he should obtain 
complete satisfaction and sufficient indemnity for the losses and 
damages he has suffered at the hands of the Cuban authorities. 
But Mr. Casanova would not like to be understood that he bears 
any ill will to the Spanish nation, nor to the Spaniards in general, 
as he esteems the former, and has many good friends among the 
latter. He complains of the authorities in the Island of Cuba, who 
have caused all the troubles and sufferings of which Mr. Casanova, 
his family, and property, have been the victims for these three long 
years past. 

24. On the 31st of March, 1869, the third warrant of arrest 
was issued against Mr. Casanova, the only male member of the 
whole family that remained at liberty on the Island of Quba at the 
time. Mr. Casanova was not advised in time of the warrant of 
arrest, otherwise he would have reported himself, and consequently 
he was arrested late in the night in his own house, taken to the 
common jail, and there confined in a solitary cell incommunieated. 
According to the entry upon the books at the prison, his imprison- 
ment was caused by direct order from the Captain-General, thus 
showing that, as yet, there was no definite charge for such a rash 
proceeding. Of this fact Mr. Casanova got the evidence, and it is 
filed in the State Department at Washington. After keeping him 
in prison over twenty-four hours, it seems that they found a charge 
to lay at Mr. Casanova's door, because until then, he was not 



13 

handed to the Judge-Advocate of the Court of Admiralty, who was 
at the time investigating the case of the seizure of the steamboat 
El Comanditario, by some persons unknown to the Government. 

25. Previous to his last imprisonment, fearing Mr Casanova to 
be caught at any time, and thrown into an unknown dungeon, 
away from his family and friends, he had prepared a paper in 
which he asked for the protection of the American Government. 
That paper he put into the hands of his wife, telling her to fill up 
the date, which was left in blank, and take it to the American 
Consul for action. This case, anticipated by Mr. Casanova, came 
to pass on the 1st of April 1869. The American Consul, in com- 
pany with Admiral Hoff, immediately called upon the Captain- 
General. They could not see his Excellency, but saw the Political 
Secretary, who, upon inquiry, told them that Mr. Casanova was 
imprisoned by special order from the Captain-General, that his case 
was td be quickly considered, and that a full copy of the proceeding- 
would be furnished them the. next day, for reporting to Wash- 
ington. But far from keeping his promise, the Political Secretary 
the next day wrote a letter to Admiral Hoff, in which he stated 
that Mr. Casanova's case had been referred to the Court of Ad- 
miralty, in pursuance of a claim of the Judge- Advocate, and he 
(the Secretary) would call the attention of the American Govern- 
ment upon the man Casanova, because that was not the first time 
he had- baffled the inquiries of the courts of law by flight. But the 
Political Secretary fails to mention when and where Mr. Casanova 
had fied from justice, or been arrested, and his assertion is a 
libellous charge. 

26. The process dragged along for twenty-three days, and in 
all this time Mr. Casanova was examined three times only, always 
in the absence of the American Consul, notwithstanding Mr. 
Casanova's earnest solicitations to have him present. At last, not 
finding cause for longer detention, and the American Government 
pressing for his discharge, Mr. Casanova was released from 
durance. In order to show how foreigners are cheated out of 
their rights, and wilfully wronged by the Spanish Government in 
Cuba, it is proper to state here that — Mr. Casanova was arrested 
by special order from the Captain- General, was indicted before the 



14 

Court of Admiralty, and discharged by the City Governor, the 
three having separate and independent jurisdiction ; and it is to be 
supposed that had noj the American Government interfered in be- 
half of Mr Casanova, he would have been tried by a court martial, 
and shot. 

Once free, the American Consul advised Mr. Casanova to quit 
the Island immediately, if he cared for his life. Mr. Casanova 
for some time resisted the idea of going away from Cuba, and 
leaving behind his valuable estates and great interests, with no 
one to manage them properly and diligently, and then after so short 
a notice. Besides, he was guilty of no offence against the Spanish 
Government, and then he did not like to leave without a written 
testimonial that he had not done it of his own accord and con- 
venience. The American Consul furnished Mr Casanova with the 
testimonial required, and he resolved upon going away at once, 
and laying his solemn protest and claim before the American Go- 
vernment at Washington. 

27. Before leaving the Island of Cuba, Mr. Casanova, through 
the American Consul, demanded his passport, which he had handed 
to the proper officer when he landed in his way out from the United 
States in November of the previous year. But the American pass- 
port was not to be found anywhere in the Government offices, and 
so the City Governor furnished Mr. Casanova with a Spanish 
passport, not forgetting to express in it that Mi*. Casanova was an 
American citizen. This passport is also filed in the State Depart- 
ment at Washington, to prove that Mi*. Casanova did not flee from 
Cuba, that he was not subjected to any process of law at the time 
of his departure, and that the Spanish Government, after Mr. 
Casanova left, knowingly and willfully put an embargo to the 
property in Cuba, of an American citizen, when they could per- 
secute him and oppress him no longer. 

28. Mr. Casanova has always kept himself aloof from all en- 
tangling political questions while in the Island- of Cuba. Again, 
lie has taken no part whatsoever in the actual troubles of the land, 
although, as a Christian republican man, his sympathies are with 
the oppressed people who have been struggling manfully these three 
years for liberty and independence. In order to prove that Mr. 



15 

Casanova, there as well as here, has always tried his best to be 
neutral in the question at issue between the Spaniards and the 
Cubans, he has had filed in the State Department at Washing- 
ton, a certificate furnished him by the Spanish Cunsul in Balti- 
more, Mel., which Mr. Casanova thinks a very important official 
document, inasmuch as there it is admitted, among other things, 
"That he (the Spanish Consul) does not quite understand why the 
Spanish Government in Cuba have waged so relentless a persecu- 
tion against Mr. I. Casanova." 

29. In June of the same year, that is to say, two months after 
Mr. Casanova left the Island of Cuba, and the Spanish Govern- 
ment had raised the embargo laid, upon his property, more than 
thirty civil guards and Spanish volunteers, headed by the 'Commis- 
saries of Police of Bemba and Colon districts, made suddenly their 
appearance in the estate Armonia, under the pretence that they were 
looking for some boxes of arms that they said were buried beneath 
the sugar mill rollers. Of course, they were allowed to search 
every corner in the plantation, but the boxes could not be found ; 
and on leaving the place they intimated that they would soon re- 
turn and make a thorough search. Of this extraordinary event 
Mr. Casanova was duly adviced by mail. 

30. The simply advice of what had just taken place in the 
Ingenio Armonia dreadfully alarmed Mr. Casanova, and for it he 
had a good reason. When the Spanish Government laid an em- 
bargo upon that very estate, they took care to discharge the em- 
ployees left there by Mr. Casanova, and put a new set of men, of 
course Spaniards, the Government tools, devoted to its cause. 
This unnecessary change was undoubtedly done with an evil pur- 
pose in view. The new employees bore no good will to Mr. 
Casanova, and could not expect to have under their charge for a 
long time Mr. Casanova's estate. Mr. Casanova saw at once what 
the unexpected visit of the Comnissaries of Police, civil guards, 
and volunteers meant. They had, or intended to have, any number 
of arms concealed somewhere in the plantation, in order to come 
by and by for them, and was once found to give out that they were 
deposited there by Mr. Casanova, his sons, or his men. With 
which the Spanish authorities probably expected to prove that 



16 

the}" were right in persecuting Mr. Casanova, Ms family, and 
property. 

31, Almost sure that he had suspected right, Mr. Casanova 
hastened to Washington, and reported there the facts, and laid his 
protest before the American Government, to the eifect that, if any 
arms were found in the Ingenio Armonia, they have been deposited 
there by the minions of the Spanish Government, to do harm to 
Mr. Casanova's character in Cuba, As a proof that the Spanish 
trick was well understood, it is the fact that as soon as they heard 
at head quarters in Havana of Mr. Casanova's protest, no more 
searches were carried out in his sugar plantation, the Spanish 
papers taking the hint at heart. In one of the issues of El Diario 
de la Marina at the time, the following lines may be read : — " Mr. 
Casanova has laid before the American Government a new protest 
against the Spanish Government, claiming indemnity. As to 
Mr. Casanova's protest, we have very little to say. That gentle- 
man belongs to the number of obstinated fellows who grant them- 
selves the right of making war on the Spanish Government by all 
means in their reach, generally the worst of all and most wicked, 
and they do not understand that that government may make a 
prudent use of its powers, and fulfill its duty, while it cares for the 
safety of the State. Were Mr. Casanova's nonsensical claims 
current coin 3i there would never exist a cordial understanding be- 
tween two nations, as there would always be some subjects of 
either, natives or naturalized, who would give to themselves the 
pleasure of disturbing it." 

32. In November of the same year, consequently upon the 
strictures of tie Spanish paper, La Voz de Cuba, on Mr. Casanova, 
to whom it applied day after day the epithet of insurgent, of in- 
mrrecto ; and upon a trustworthy advice that reached him from 
Cuba, to the effect that his sugar plantation, Armonia, was to be 
set on fire as soon as the dry season should come, and that to this 
end the Spanish Government were abusing Mr. Casanova, to keep 
up the hatred with which he was looked upon, — he had recourse 
again to reporting the facts to the State Department at Washing- 
ton, with a copy of La Voz de Cuba, in which, as usual, Mr. Casa- 
nova was called bad names, insurrecto as well ; and to complaining 



17 

of the Captain-G-eneral, because the press, being under his control, 
he, and no one else, should be responsible for the damage that might 
accrue to Mr. Casanova's property. About this complaint of Mr. 
Casanova, a despatch was sent to the American Consul at Havana, 
a fact, which being known by the Captain-General, the latter 
functionary saw the former long before the dry season came, and 
told him there Avas no ground for Mr. Casanova's fears. But be 
the Captain-General of Cuba right or wrong on this particular 
point, certain there is that there have not been wanting hints and 
real threats on the part of the Spanish press about what the 
Spaniards should do particularly to Mr. Casanova's property, and 
generally to all foreigner's property in Cuba. See, for example, the 
note at the end of these pages. 

33. Anyway, Mr. Casanova's complaint was timely, inasmuch 
as his plantation has not been visited by Spanish officers ever since, 
and so far it is safe from fire. Besides, it seems that the Spanish 
press of Cuba has been intimidated into a wise silence about Mr. 
Casanova's property and name, although the Cronista of this city, 
over which the Captain-General has no control, has kept a 
scattering fire on the subject. 

As when Mr. Casanova left the Tsland of Cuba, he did so with 
a written permit of the Spanish Government, and afterwards he 
obtained a good certificate from the Spanish Consul in Balti- 
more, as mentioned in paragraph 28th, he thought there could 
be no harm in his going back to Cuba, to see for himself about 
his own business, which was sorely neglected there, and, above all, 
to sell his sugar plantation, Armonia, for which the sum of 
$500,000 was preferred him by some Spanish merchants there.. 
Though the money did not cover the real value of the estate, he 
concluded to sell it, as he was not allowed to attend to it personally. 

Before definitely resolving upon going, Mr. Casanova went to 
Washington, and fully explained his case at the State Department, 
and asked whether, on account of the claims he had established 
against the Spanish Government, and on account of the letter of the 
American Consul, in which Mr. Casanova was advised to leave the 
Island, he might conveniently return there, under the guarantee 
and help of his Government. Mr. Casanova was told that the 



18 

State Department would readily furnish him with the required 
passport, but could not anticipate any protection, since this should 
be afforded him by the American Consul in Havana, and that for 
Mr. Casanova's greater security, he might obtain a safe-conduct 
from the Spanish Minister at Washington. 

35. The Spanish Minister was then approached, and although 
he appeared at first to be willing to grant the safe-conduct, at last 
he refused, saying that he ought not to give it. This disappoint- 
ment, notwithstanding, Mr. Casanova, over-anxious to sell his 
Ingenio Armonia, took his passport, bad it countersigned by the 
Spanish Consul in New York, and embarked for Cuba on the 17th 
day of February 1871. What happened to him there, will be 
stated below. 

1. Mr. Casanova left New York on the 17th of February, pro- 
vided with the necessary passport from the U. S. Government, and 
countersigned by the Spanish Consul at New York, who charged 
him two dollars in gold for his services. 

2. He arrived at Havana on the morning of the 24th, and re- 
mained on board the steamer until nine o'clock, when the neces- 
sary permit from the Captain-General came for his landing. He 
then went on shore with his baggage, which was strictly examined, 
and afterwards he was provided with a landing certificate from the 
Government to remain in the Island, for which he was charged 
$2.12 ; \ in gold, being a foreigner, and they kept his passport. He 
then went in his carriage to his daughter's home, where she and 
Mrs. Casanova awaited him at No. 40 Neptune Street, remaining 
with his family all of that day until half-past seven p.m.', when two 
policemen appeared, and a third remained outside the front door 
and intimated his arrest, which he immediately obeyed, leaving his 
wife, who was sick in bed, and his daughter much alarmed and 
weeping for such unwarrantable proceedings. 

3. Mr. Casanova inquired of the police where he Avas to be 
taken, and was answered that he was going to the Plaza de Armas, 
to the General's palace ; but soon after starting, gave orders to the 
driver to take him to the Machina : this change attracted Mr. Casa- 
nova's attention, and inquired the reason for changing his mind, to 
which the man replied, that Mr. C. soon Avould know the cause. 



19 

4. They arrived at the Machina, or landing wharf, and here he 
was locked up within a railing with a sentinel, while the police 
walked up and down to the door ; and about an hour afterwards 
entered the railing and told him, " Come with me, to go on board 
the steamer, by order of the Captain-General." 

5. They left in a boat pulled by two men, accompanied by 
a policeman, who was left as a guard on board the steamer, by 
the Commissary of Police, although it Avas an American steamer, 
so that Mr. C. should not land again. 

6. On going across the bay, the policeman asked him if he 
wanted to go on board the "City of Mexico," on which he had ar- 
rived, or on board the " Columbia," which was to sail for New 
York ; and he answered him, that to spend the night he would prefer 
the former, and that next morning he should go to the latter, and 
they arrived alongside the " City of Mexico ; " but although he did 
not find the captain, who was ashore, he was received on board, 
the Commissary of Police withdrawing, and leaving the guard to 
prevent his landing. 

7. As the captain was not on board to ask him for paper and ink 
to write his protest, and communicate it to the Consul, Mr. Casanova 
wrote it with a pencil, and early next day he sent it to the Consul, 
who answered him immediately. The assertions in the protest were, 
among others, that the Spanish Government, in violation of inter- 
national treaties with a friendly power, expelled from the Island a 
citizen without previous trial, nor any legal proceedings, compelling 
him to abandon completely the valuable property which he there 
possessed, and specially preventing him selling the sugar estate, 
" La Armonia," which he had agreed to sell, and that on account 
of his expulsion he could not execute the deed and carry out the 
sale, which was for the considerable sum of half a million of dollars, 
although this was not the true value of the estate, it being worth a 
great deal more. 

8. On the 25th, in the morning, about. seven o'clock, a Spanish 
friend of Mr. Casanova came on board ; he being a trustworthy per- 
son, who belongs to the volunteer regiments' — and after the customary 
salutation, told him to at Once repair to the steamer " Columbia," if 
he wanted to save his life, as a plot was formed to arrest him in 



20 

the boat which was to cany him from one steamer to the other, the 
Spaniards not daring to do so on board the vessel, to prevent a 
conflict with the American Government ; that on being taken 
ashore they would take him from the landing on pretence of bring- 
ing him before the Chief of Police, and on the way they would be 
met by a party of volunteers, who would commence to shout, 
" Viva Cuba libre ! Death to Spain ! " and they would then seize 
him, saying, " Here is the traitor Casanova," and have him shot. 
This alarming intelligence, although the man was to him very 
truthful, he had his doubts, which he noticed and said, " Believe 
me, and I hope you will be cautious, because you will understand 
the danger I am in if it is discovered, as I belong to the number of 
those who are to make the riot and shouting ; and if you don't go to 
the other vessel at once, it may be impossible afterwards, as they 
will put a Government boat along side the stairs of the ' Colum- 
bia ' to prevent the approach of any boat until your arrest is 
effected, as if they don't succeed in capturing you in the transfer 
boat, they would effect it in the Government boat before you go on 
board the ' Columbia.' " And he left. 

9. Still uncertain Avhat to believe, Mr. C. followed the advice, 
and at once left in a boat of the consignees that was alongside with 
the freight lighters, and which service was done by one of the clerks 
who was on board, to whom Mr. C. begged the favor, although he 
paid the boatman for his trouble, and left the guard, telling him he 
was going on board the " Columbia," which was very near the 
"City of Mexico," and to which he did not object. 

10. In about half-an-hour, a Government boat arrived along- 
side, and although many boats were arriving, none were allowed to 
approach, until in one of them, the Commissary of Police, who ar- 
rested Mr. Casanova the previous day, arrived, and on seeing him 
on board, shouted out, " Come down, and come with me to return 
you to the ' City of Mexico,' on board which steamer the Government 
ordered you to leave ; " to which he replied, that the officer had. 
fulJilled his orders, and Mr. Casanova had obeyed them by re-em- 
barking ; and as the order did not express the name of the vessel, 
and being an American citizen, and the " Columbia " leaving very 
soon, he had aright to continue the voyage. In this discussion 



21 

they spent a few minutes, he urging Mr. Casanova to go with him, 
and he refusing, until a boat arrived Avith his daughter and sister, 
who were coming to bid him farewell ; but the Commissary 
ordered the boat to retreat, and after many entreaties of his 
daughter to be allowed him to come to speak to her on board the 
boat, which he did promptly ; but as soon as he jumped on board 
the boat, the policemen ordered the men to shove off, and intimated 
his arrest, to which he replied by jumping back on the stairs of 
the " Columbia," and shouting : — " I am under my flag ! Viva 
Washington ! " And then addressed all present to be witness to the 
persecution carried on against him by the Spanish Government ; 
and he went on board the steamer, followed by the Commissary of 
Police and another man, who insisted on taking him ashore ; and 
although the captain of the vessel was ashore, the officer in charge 
objected, and thus ended the scene, which convinced Mr. C. beyond 
doubt that all his friend had told him was true. 

11. Mr. C's. protest and communication to the Consul only had 
reference to what occurred on the 24th, and nothing about what 
happened on the 25th, on account of his departure. 

12. It is necessary to notice that Mr. C's. daughter, on going to 
bid him farewell, had with her his valise with clothes, and they did 
not allow it to pass, keeping it until the last moment, when it was 
sent on board, and he found it had been ransacked, and missed 
$1000 in U. S: currency he had, belonging to his wife. 

13. The passport, which was very necessary to get his passage 
ticket from the consignees, was denied him, and the Government 
kept it ; and if it had not been for the knowledge the Captain had 
of the injustice done to Mr. C. he would have denied him a passage, 
and compelled him to return on shore, where he would have surely 
lost his life. 

Note. — It is necessary to add to the information given by Mr. 
Casanova's friend, that the cause of his expulsion and re-embark- 
ation was originated by the Chief of Police, who, as soon as be 
heard of his landing, went to see the Captain-General, and in- 
formed him that Mr. Casanova. was the greatest filibuster, the 
father of Mrs. Villaverde, and that he had heavy claims against 
Spain, and that he was only returning to the Island to effect the 



22 

sale of the " Armonia " estate for half-a-million dollars, which sum 
he had no doubt would be spent in armed expeditions against 
Cuba, this information being sufficient for the Government to give 
the order of expulsion. 

Note 2d. — Not having used the clothes that the valise contained 
during the day that Mr. C. spent in Havana, and not having even 
opened it during the day, he can not assure that the loss of the 
thousand dollars that he missed from his valise was oi'iginated by 
the Spaniards, who snatched the said valise from the boat as stated, 
and who kept it Avitli them for somehoui's. Having made a voyage 
of six days g*oing to Havana, and the lock of the valise being very 
easily opened without a key, perhaps the thousand dollars were 
stolen on board in his trip to Havana. In such uncertainty he 
makes no claim about the said amount, and he only mentions it as 
an unlucky part of his trip. 

Note 3. — The Spanish paper, El Cronista, published in this 
city^in its issue of the 1st of March, 1871, speaking of the last 
trip to Havana, of Mr. Casanova, says : "It is plain that he must 
be a daring man, who does what Mr. Inocencio Casanova did. 
With the greatest intrepidity lie embarked in New York and went 
to Havana. The authorities there forced him back and they have 
done right. The Spanish character does not quite agree with so 
much carelessness, and it might have shared much worse with Mr. 
Inocencio, had he remained many hours in the Spanish territory. 
If he is a citizen of this land (U. S.) he has no business to go to 
the country he has offended with his disloyalty and abuse." 

In the same paper of the 8th of March, the following remarks 
occur : " Mr. I. Casanova has made a great fuss, saying through 
the newspapers that he had been to Cuba in order to receive the 
• net proceeds of the sale of his sugar plantation Armonia; Jive hun- 
dred thousand dollars, nothing less.. God help us. It was not a 
bad harmony that which portended to us the last trip of Mr. 
Inocencio. Again, a more important deduction we make out of 
that piece of news, namely, that if the Spanish volunteers were so 
wicked as those who calumniate them, it was long ago since the sugar 
plantation of Mr. Inocencio Casanova woidd have been purified in the 



23 

sacred fire of our country, setting thus in harmony, intentions 
and doings.'' 

" What a pity that "these $500,000 should come to such hands ! " 
Note 4. — After writing the above, Mr. Casanova has received 
a letter from Havana, dated the 1st of April, 1871, in which he 
is informed that on the 28th or 29th of March, a large fire occurred 
on his plantation "La Armonia," in consequence of which one-half 
of the cane -fields were burnt, and the sugar factory barely escaped 
destruction, the conflagration having extended to its very foot. 



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